Coffee filtering capsule

ABSTRACT

A coffee filter capsule with water pressure may include a cup body, a cup cover provided at a top surface of the cup body, a pressurizing piece disposed within the cup cover, a filter holder disposed below the pressurizing piece, and a filter sheet below the filter holder. In one embodiment, the coffee filter capsule may further include a water inlet at a bottom portion of the cup body, and a water outlet provided on a top surface of the cup cover. In another embodiment, the cup cover may further include a flow guiding groove on the inner surface of the cup cover. In a further embodiment, the pressurizing piece is made by soft elastic material and a strip-shaped slit is disposed in a center portion of the pressurizing piece. In still a further embodiment, the pressurizing piece is made by silicon. It is noted that a through hole is formed at the center portion of the filter holder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coffee filter capsule, and in particular to a coffee filter capsule with water pressure during brewing process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, some coffee machines available on the markets are equipped with disposable capsules that match the coffee machines. There are also many reusable filter capsules, such as K-cup reusable coffee capsules, Italy reusable coffee capsules, etc. For a long period of time, the crema extracting and filtering effects of these reusable coffee capsules are not satisfactory, so the disposable coffee capsules are always used, which has caused serious environmental problems. In addition, users cannot brew coffee with their preferred coffee powder. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved coffee filter capsule to overcome the problem stated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a coffee filter capsule with water pressure may include a cup body, a cup cover provided at a top surface of the cup body, a pressurizing piece disposed within the cup cover, a filter holder disposed below the pressurizing piece, and a filter sheet below the filter holder. In one embodiment, the coffee filter capsule may further include a water inlet at a bottom portion of the cup body, and a water outlet provided on a top surface of the cup cover.

In another embodiment, the cup cover may further include a flow guiding groove on the inner surface of the cup cover. In a further embodiment, the pressurizing piece is made by silicone and a strip-shaped slit is disposed in a center portion of the pressurizing piece. It is noted that a through hole is formed at the center portion of the filter holder.

Compared with the conventional disposable coffee capsules, the present invention is advantageous because the pressurizing and filtering structures on the cup cover are simple and convenient to use. By setting a cup body, a cup cover, a pressurizing piece, a filter holder and a filter sheet, the coffee capsule in the present invention can achieve effective filtration of coffee and the extraction of crema. When in use, the cup cover having the pressurizing piece, filter holder and filter sheet is opened, coffee powders are added into the cup body and compacted, then the cup cover is put back and placed to a designated coffee machine capsule to start the brewing process. At this time, the hot water inside the coffee machine will be injected out from the pressure water pump of the coffee machine and enters the cup body through the water inlet at the bottom of the cup body to mix with the coffee powders. When the coffee powders are brewed with hot water and filtered through the filter sheet, the coffee liquid flows out of the mesh of the filter sheet and into the through hole of the filter holder, then flows into the strip-shaped slit of the pressurizing piece. As the gap of the strip-shaped slit is small, the flowing liquid is locked temporarily therein. At this time, the cup will be pressurized and when the pressure inside the cup increases, the crema in the coffee powders will be extracted by hot water. When the pressure is increased to a certain level, the strip-shaped slit of the pressurizing piece will be expanded and deformed toward both sides under the pressure, so the size of the slit increases and the coffee liquid with crema in the through hole will be injected into the flow guiding groove on the cup cover through the slit, and flows out of the cup body through the flow guiding groove and the water outlet. A cup of coffee filled with crema with excellent filtering effect can then be prepared. At this time, the reusable coffee filter capsule can be taken out, the cup cover is opened to pour out the coffee residue inside the cup body, rinse them with clean water and the capsule can be used again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the structure of the coffee filtering capsule with water pressure in the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the structure of the coffee filtering capsule with water pressure in the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.

All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

In one aspect, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a coffee filter capsule with water pressure may include a cup body 2, a cup cover 1 provided at a top surface of the cup body 2, a pressurizing piece 3 disposed within the cup cover 1, a filter holder 4 disposed below the pressurizing piece 3, and a filter sheet 5 below the filter holder 4. In one embodiment, the coffee filter capsule may further include a water inlet 6 at a bottom portion of the cup body 2, and a water outlet 7 provided on a top surface of the cup cover 1.

In another embodiment, the cup cover 1 may further include a flow guiding groove on the inner surface of the cup cover 1. In a further embodiment, the pressurizing piece 3 is made by silicone and a strip-shaped slit 9 is disposed in a center portion of the pressurizing piece 3. It is noted that a through hole 10 is formed at the center portion of the filter holder 4.

When in use, the cup cover 1 having the pressurizing piece 3, filter holder 4 and filter sheet 5 is opened, coffee powders are added into the cup body 2 and compacted, then the cup cover 1 is put back and placed to a designated coffee machine capsule to start the brewing process. At this time, the hot water inside the coffee machine will be injected out from the pressure water pump of the coffee machine and enters the cup body 2 through the water inlet 6 at the bottom of the cup body 2 to mix with the coffee powders. When the coffee powders are brewed with hot water and filtered through the filter sheet 5, the coffee liquid flows out of the mesh of the filter sheet 5 and into the through hole 10 of the filter holder 4, then flows into the strip-shaped slit 9 of the pressurizing piece 3. As the gap of the strip-shaped slit 9 is small, the flowing liquid is locked temporarily therein. At this time, the cup will be pressurized and when the pressure inside the cup increases, the crema in the coffee powders will be extracted by hot water. When the pressure is increased to a certain level, the strip-shaped slit 9 of the pressurizing piece 3 will be expanded and deformed toward both sides under the pressure, so the size of the slit 9 increases and the coffee liquid with crema in the through hole 10 will be injected into the flow guiding groove 8 on the cup cover 1 through the slit, and flows out of the cup body through the flow guiding groove 8 and the water outlet 6. A cup of coffee filled with crema with excellent filtering effect can then be prepared. At this time, the reusable coffee filter capsule can be taken out, the cup cover 1 is opened to pour out the coffee residue inside the cup body 2, rinse them with clean water and the capsule can be used again.

Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A coffee filter capsule comprising a cup body having a predetermined amount of coffee powders, a cup cover provided at a top surface of the cup body, a pressurizing piece disposed within the cup cover, a filter holder disposed below the pressurizing piece, and a filter sheet below the filter holder, a water inlet at a bottom portion of the cup body, a water outlet provided on a top surface of the cup cover, wherein the cup cover further includes a flow guiding groove on the inner surface of the cup cover, a strip-shaped slit is disposed in a center portion of the pressurizing piece, and a through hole formed at a center portion of the filter holder, wherein hot water is injected to mix with the coffee powders in the cup body and flows into the strip-shaped slit where the cup body is pressurized to extract crema in the coffee powders into the hot water.
 2. The coffee filter capsule of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing piece is made by soft elastic materials.
 3. The coffee filter capsule of claim 2, wherein the pressurizing piece is made by silicone. 